New study: IT sector cuts annual CO2

July 27, 2010, London & New York – Today, 1E, a software and services company that improves IT efficiency by identifying and reducing costs and waste in hardware, software, energy and time, and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI) released results from a new study that shows the IT sector has reduced annual CO2 emissions associated with IT equipment by more than 32 million metric tons worldwide since 2007.

The results are part of a benchmark study conducted by Natural Logic to assess the progress of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative’s goal of reducing annual CO2 emissions from the IT sector by 54 million metric tons by June 2011. The Initiative, of which 1E is a sponsor, is an international coalition dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of new and emerging IT equipment through energy efficiency.

This new research shows that annual CO2 emissions from IT equipment have decreased by 32 million to 36 million metric tons worldwide since 2007. This amount is equivalent to taking nine coal-fired power plants offline and is equal to more than $2 billion in annual energy savings. Additionally, the research shows that the IT sector is on target to achieve Climate Savers Computing Initiative’s reduction goal by the end of its 2010 fiscal year in June 2011.

“1E joined the Climate Savers Computing Initiative to help decrease the energy consumption of IT equipment on a global scale. These research results demonstrate that the IT sector is on the right track,” said 1E CEO Sumir Karayi. “1E remains dedicated to CSCI’s energy efficiency mission and looks forward to helping achieve even greater reductions in CO2 emissions in the coming years.”

These results can be attributed in part to the Climate Savers Computing Initiative’s coordinated efforts to accelerate the adoption of computer power management; new efficiency standards for computing technologies; and the development, deployment, and adoption of higher-efficiency computing equipment.

“When CSCI was established in 2007, desktop computers wasted 50 percent of the power coming from the wall,” says Pat Tiernan, executive director of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. “Today, through the collective efforts of our members, hardware manufacturers, large IT buyers, and other key partners, the IT sector has cut that waste by at least 25 percent for new systems.”

The study covered the first three program years of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2010. Data was compiled by examining CSCI member company progress on power-management adoption and market data, including shipment and installed-base information, PSU efficiency levels, number of units sold worldwide, operating systems in use, market research, and estimates from industry analysts.

What’s Next: Focus Will Include Networking Equipment

Going forward, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative will leverage the expertise and leadership of its members with that of new board members, Cisco, Emerson Network Power, and Juniper Networks, as the organization expands its focus to include commercial and home networking systems and devices.

“As the number of networked devices continues to rise, the energy demands on networks and networking equipment will increase in step. With this growth, there is significant energy and cost savings potential,” said 1E CEO Sumir Karayi. “The Climate Savers Computing Initiative and 1E recognize that, in order to achieve end-to-end computing energy efficiency, we must address the energy used by connected devices and their interaction with the network.”

The organization will begin by setting new energy efficiency criteria for networking technologies. These new criteria will be developed by working with members and through alliances with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others.

As part of this expansion, commercial and residential routers and switches, commercial WLAN, and security and access devices will be incorporated into the organization’s environmental mission, with the goal of reducing annual CO2 emissions by an additional 38 million metric tons by 2015. This is the equivalent of $5 billion in annual energy cost savings.

According to research from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the energy used by commercial and residential buildings’ networking systems and devices will increase by roughly 6 percent annually without a focused effort to improve their energy efficiency. “We hope to reverse this trend, and we think we can,” said Tiernan. “Our research shows that, with the adoption of conservation and efficiency measures on networking equipment, a commercial or residential building’s energy use can be reduced by more than 10 percent.”

About Climate Savers Computing Initiative

Climate Savers Computing Initiative is a global consortium dedicated to reducing the energy consumption of end-to-end computing. Since 2007, more than 645 members, including large commercial enterprises and technology industry stakeholders, have joined the initiative, and thousands of individuals have pledged their support. The initiative is dedicated to reducing the energy consumption of the IT sector through three focus areas: increasing the energy efficiency of computing equipment, increasing the adoption and deployment of power management, and shifting user behavior to smart computing practices. The initiative is led by Cisco, CSC, Dell, Emerson Network Power, Google Inc., HP, Intel, Juniper Networks, Microsoft, and the World Wildlife Fund. Sponsors include 1E, Acer Inc., CompTIA, Faronics, Fujitsu Limited, Hitachi Ltd., Lenovo, NEC Corporation, Sony Electronics, Sparxent Verismic Software, Symantec, and Verdiem Corporation.